Our Genealogy Helper
Introduction ...
We have a couple of goals for our Gazetteer:
- That it be a tool which helps us with planning our trips.
- We're trying to shape our Gazetteer as a tool to help us understand the community in which our ancestors lived, the community that was part of their daily lives.
- On our trips, we try to visit those places where our ancestors left their footprints.
By learning about Bowles (and the surrounding area) during the time that our ancestors lived, we hope to have a better understanding of both their community and its relationship to their lifes. We hope that this tool helps to give us an insight into their world.
As we add data and organize our Gazetteer to help with our family research, we will be adding to this our Genealogical Helper for Bowles. While we don't have information that is specific to any given person or family, we intend to expand our understanding about where and how people lived.
Neighboring Counties ...
When searching for family records, we have frequently made the mistake of not checking the neighboring counties.
For example, we have great-grandparents who lived in the northeast corner of their home county. During their lives, most doctors were in the next county to the east. Almost all of the nearby churches and cemeteries were in the county to the north.
So when searching for records, we had our best success by looking in neighboring counties instead of the county in which they lived: their home county contained property and probate records; the county to the east contained birth and death records; the county to the north contained their burial records. If we hadn't included the neighboring counties, we would have missed many valuable sources of information.
If you're in a similar situation, we hope that the following information helps.
Bowles is located in Conecuh County.
To see how the shape of Alabama's counties may have changed over time, we recommend the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
The following counties adjoin and form the boundaries of Conecuh County: Butler, Covington, Escambia & Monroe.
Below are the counties that are near Bowles. For each of these counties, we show a sample of those communities that are closest to Bowles:
- Conecuh County (The home county of Bowles)
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Owassa
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Owassa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Owassa
- Commerce
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Wilcox
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Mixonville
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the north)
- Mixonville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Mixonville
- Evergreen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Ramah
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the west)
- Ramah is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ramah
- Rabb
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the southeast)
- Rabb is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Rabb
- Old Town
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southeast)
- Old Town is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Old Town
- Belleville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Centerville
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southeast)
- Centerville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Centerville
- Bermuda
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Butler County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Garland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Starlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Georgiana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- McKenzie
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Chapman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
- Shacklesville
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northeast)
- Shacklesville is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Shacklesville
- Bolling
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northeast)
- Bolling is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bolling
- Industry
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the east)
- Industry is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Industry
- Forest Home
(21 miles [33.8 km] to the north)
- Oaky Streak
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the east)
- Oaky Streak is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oaky Streak
- Greenville
(27 miles [43.5 km] to the northeast)
- Covington County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Red Level
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the southeast)
- Red Level is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Red Level
- Population from the 2020 Census: 474 people
- River Falls
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the southeast)
- River Falls is located in Covington County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for River Falls
- Population from the 2020 Census: 528 people
- Monroe County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Pine Orchard
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the northwest)
- Pine Orchard is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Orchard
- Burnt Corn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Pineville
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northwest)
- Pineville is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pineville
- Peterman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Peterman is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Peterman
- Tunnel Springs
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the west)
- Tunnel Springs is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Tunnel Springs
- Former name for Tunnel Springs:
- Kempsville
- Beatrice
(17 miles [27.4 km] to the northwest)
- Lovan ‑ Historic
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Lovan is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Lovan
- Natchez
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the northwest)
- Natchez is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Natchez
- Monroeville
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the west)
- Buena Vista
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the northwest)
- Buena Vista is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Buena Vista
- Ollie
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the west)
- Ollie is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Ollie
- Excel
(23 miles [37 km] to the southwest)
- Excel is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Excel
- Population from the 2020 Census: 619 people
- Wilcox County
- The following are listed by their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Awin
(18 miles [29 km] to the north)
- Awin is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Awin
- McWilliams
(19 miles [30.6 km] to the north)
- McWilliams is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McWilliams
- Pine Apple
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Pine Apple is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Pine Apple
- Population from the 2020 Census: 129 people
- Schuster
(20 miles [32.2 km] to the north)
- Schuster is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Schuster
- Caledonia
(22 miles [35.4 km] to the north)
- Caledonia is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Caledonia
- Oak Hill
(24 miles [38.6 km] to the north)
- Oak Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Oak Hill
- Population from the 2020 Census: 23 people
- Furman
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Furman is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Furman
- McBrydes
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- McBrydes is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for McBrydes
- Snow Hill
(29 miles [46.7 km] to the north)
- Snow Hill is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Snow Hill
- Estelle
(30 miles [48.3 km] to the northwest)
- Estelle is located in Wilcox County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Estelle
For an expanded list of the communities that are closest to Bowles, see our County-by-County Page for Bowles.
Cemeteries Near Bowles ...
Below are cemeteries that are in the vicinity of Bowles.
This is a new section and is likely to have errors. If you find an error, such as a missing cemetery or we have the wrong name, please let us know. If you know of them, we would also appreciate learning about previous or alternate names.
Although we don't have the information ourselves, if you need information about a burial or interment, photos, transcripts, how to contact the cemetery or local authorities, please visit our list of websites on our Genealogy Helper Page for Bowles - one of the links might be able to help.
If not found below, our Cemetery List for Bowles covers a larger area, with the cemeteries listed in alphabetical order.
The following cemeteries are listed based on their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Kaiser Cemetery
(2 miles [3.2 km] to the northwest)
- Little Pine Level Cemetery
(3 miles [4.8 km] to the east)
- Witherington Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the southwest)
- Joyner Cemetery
(4 miles [6.4 km] to the northeast)
- Second Mt. Zion Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the southeast)
- Concord Cemetery
(5 miles [8 km] to the northeast)
- Robinson Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the south)
- Olive Branch Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the southeast)
- Mt. Olive West Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northeast)
- Mt. Zion Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the north)
- New Haven Cemetery
(6 miles [9.7 km] to the northwest)
- Ivey Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southwest)
- Continue List (214 more) ...
- Martin Cemetery
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the west)
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Martin Cemetery
- To give a relative sense of its location, the Martin Cemetery is located
- Jump to Find-A-Grave: FG ID #24222 <2>
- Arkadelphia Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
- Riley Cemetery
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the southwest)
Nearby Communities in 1895 ...
We've built the following list with information that came from an Atlas published by Rand McNally in 1895. The Atlas had details such as the population of the community (which appears to have come from the 1890 Census) and whether there was a post office and/or railroad service available. We also indicate if the community no longer exists and is now historic.<3>
The Rand McNally Atlas shows that in 1895, Bowles had a post office and no railroad service.
These communities are listed based on their distance from Bowles, with the one closest to Bowles listed first.
- Wilcox
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the southeast)
- Wilcox is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Wilcox
- Commerce
(7 miles [11.3 km] to the north)
- Commerce is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Commerce
- Skinnerton
(8 miles [12.9 km] to the northwest)
- Skinnerton is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Skinnerton
- Evergreen
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the south)
- Garland
(9 miles [14.5 km] to the east)
- Garland is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Garland
- Burnt Corn
(10 miles [16.1 km] to the west)
- Burnt Corn is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Burnt Corn
- Starlington
(11 miles [17.7 km] to the northeast)
- Starlington is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Starlington
- Belleville
(12 miles [19.3 km] to the southwest)
- Belleville is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Belleville
- Bermuda
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the southwest)
- Bermuda is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Bermuda
- Riley
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Riley is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Riley
- Turnbull
(13 miles [20.9 km] to the northwest)
- Turnbull is located in Monroe County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Turnbull
- Sparta ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Sparta is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Sparta
- Sparta has also been known as:
- Old Sparta
- Continue List (16 more) ...
- Jay Villa ‑ Historic
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the south)
- Jay Villa is located in Conecuh County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Jay Villa
- Georgiana
(14 miles [22.5 km] to the east)
- Chapman
(16 miles [25.7 km] to the northeast)
- Chapman is located in Butler County
- Jump to our Gazetteer entry for Chapman
We've also created an expanded list of communities that existed in the 1890's and were located in the area around Bowles. See our List of 1890's Communities around Bowles.
Newspapers Published in Bowles ...
An ongoing effort between the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has resulted in the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
To share their results, the partnership has created the Chronicling America website. The goal of this partnership is to assemble a database about the current and historic newspapers of the United States. This includes a growing collection of scanned images from selected papers. All of it available to the public on their website.
Using information that we've taken from the Chronicling America website, we've identified 41 newspapers that have been published in the area around Bowles.
Although we're unaware of any newspapers that were published in the immediate area of Bowles, there are papers which were published within 27 miles [43.5 km]<4>. A list of those papers, sorted by paper name, can be found on the Extended Newspaper List for Bowles.
Websites to Help With Your Genealogy Research ...
When we do our genealogical research, we first visit the websites from Cyndi's List, FamilySearch and Genealogy Trails. These websites offer the information directly or else point to where you can find it. Their information is open to everyone.
To help you get started, the following links will take you to the pages that are relevant to Bowles:
- Websites specific to Alabama
- Pages specific to Conecuh County
- Genealogy information for nearby counties
- Butler County
- Covington County
- Monroe County
- Wilcox County
- Cemetery Information and Directories for Alabama
Footnotes ...
| <1> | While we're fans and frequent users of TripAdvisor, you should know that we're also members of the TripAdvisor affiliate program. |
| <2> | The Find-a-Grave website is an excellent research tool with information about a cemetery's location and interments. They also offer a forum for their members which can provide additional help. More information about Find-a-Grave can be found on their website: findagrave.com. |
| <3> | We use the term 'Historic' broadly and it generally means that the community no longer exists. However, it can also mean that the community might still exist, but was significantly larger or had a more 'official' existence in the past than it does now. Unfortunately our sources of data have proven to be unreliable. If you can provide us with more specific information about Bowles, please let us know so that we can improve our accuracy. |
| <4> | Our distances are not driving distances, but are calculated as a 'point-to-point' distance. A straight line distance ignores things like rivers, canyons, lakes, et cetera - it's truly a line drawn from Point A (ie- Bowles) to Point B. In other words: 'As the crow flies'. |